Alexander Volkanovski Plans 2-3 More Fights Before Retiring From UFC

Alexander Volkanovski

Ilia Topuria has vacated his featherweight title, setting the stage for Alexander Volkanovski vs. Diego Lopes for the vacant belt. Volkanovski returns after more than a year away, with high stakes as he looks to reclaim his championship. Ahead of the fight, the former featherweight champion has opened up about his retirement plans.

Volkanovski, one of the greatest fighters ever, is set to return after back-to-back knockout losses. His recent defeats have led some fans to question his future. Ahead of his comeback, he spoke about his retirement plans in an interview with Ariel Helwani. Volkanovski admitted he once doubted if he was still the same fighter. However, he remains confident in his ability to compete at a high level. In a recent interview with Helwani, he said:

“I’m expecting to maybe have a few more… I’ll say that and then I’ll have a fight and absolutely love it and go, ‘You know what, give me another six or seven [fights]!’ But how much longer? I still love, but how much longer do I want to do this to myself and my body?”

‘The Great’ admitted that even if he regains the belt, he might consider retiring due to the physical demands of the sport. His upcoming fight will be a pivotal moment in his career.

Alexander Volkanovski Trains with Aljamain Sterling Ahead of His Return

Volkanovski has released his first training camp video, giving fans a glimpse into his preparations for an upcoming fight he hopes will be announced soon. The footage features him training alongside former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling at Bangtao in Phuket, Thailand. In the video the former featherweight champion said,

“Hopefully a fight announcement soon. But we’re in camp. We’ve been in camp for a while, doing a pre-camp camp. So now we’re pretty much in camp. Good bodies here for us already. At Bangtao, you’ve always got good bodies, but I’ve got Craig Jones that’s come with us.

Volkanovski is training with elite partners, including Aljamain Sterling, for the first time. He aims to deliver his best performance against Diego Lopes, keeping fans excited for his return.